RE: Cult-water
- To: "i*@egroups.com"
- Subject: RE: [iris-talk] Cult-water
- From: J* H*
- Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 06:30:15 -0700
- Encoding: 48 TEXT
>
> Just curious about how others manage water supply
>
* Colleen Modra South Oz Zone8
Our well is just at over 400 ft with water sweet enough to make beer
straight from the tap but we're limited to about 6 gpm and can run the
water for only about 2 hours before drawing the well down. With a garden at
somewhere over 1,000 ft square, large lawn, 2 greenhouses, livestock, and
household needs, we've used a number of approaches to get everything done.
Veggies and lawn use the most water so are soaked down in the evenings when
the plants have the best chance of grabbing the water. The lawn provides a
green zone around the house during fire weather and helps cool the yard. No
sprays are used here so grass trimmings are used to mulch the veggies. It
keeps the weeds down and holds moisture in.
The majority of the garden area has been heavily amended with compost so
once plants have had the chance to get their roots down, they find a soft,
brown sponge to grow in. Most plantings are close together and shade the
soil by late Spring. The largest part of the plantings are drought tolerant
species so can go 3 weeks or longer between their 1/2" to 3/4" of water.
Paths are mulched heavily with wood chips. Bearded irises are watered in
when only when transplanted and the sandy lower garden is reserved for
those species that can do well without water during the summer. Drip
buckets or spot watering works well in the orchard when things heat up too
much.
Those plants that do need more water (water loving irises) are planted in
depressions and flooded. Where they're planted is as important as how. A
hard, part clay subsoil keeps the moisture near the roots longer.
Number of animals is kept just below holding capacity for the unirrigated
pasture. Washing is done only when full loads can be run and work clothes
aren't run if they're still halfway clean. A large closed drum catches what
rain falls on the roof of the house and the water is used (by the bucket
full) for spot watering. Starter plants in the nursery are bottom watered
to get more moisture to the roots where it's needed and the greenhouses use
a liner to provide a bit of shade.
Water, like money or time, can be spent wisely. Here, it simply means
planning ahead to use the best method for each circumstance.
Christy Hensler
Newport, WA
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